Notorio, Isaac Nicholas N.

September 16, 2013

College of Science/BS Chemistry Concept Paper
2013-25581 Eng 10 THR3
A Hot Global Issue
News from every part of the world about severe flooding, drought, strong typhoons, increase in sea
level and melting of glaciers have struck everyone. More and more natural disasters claim lives of many and
inflict a great damage. These problems are attributed to global warming, or more scientifically correct, climate
change. Climate change has become popular to everyone since scientists revealed data showing the increase in
global average temperature. This temperature change is due to the intensified greenhouse effect caused by
large emissions of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, CO2.
The effects of climate change on world economy caused countries to move and counter these effects
but their plans are not enough for the coming impacts. Governments of both industrialized and developing
countries have started plans yet they are not enough to largely reduce their greenhouse emissions. But still,
China and the United States continue to be the worlds biggest greenhouse gas emitters according to the
United States Environmental Protection Agency. Intensive actions must be done especially by those who
contribute more to climate change to repel the destructive effects of climate change.
Start of a Global Problem
Natural cycles are observed if they contribute to global warming but it is found by scientists that they
contribute a little. Humans are having responsibility in the warming of the Earth. Among human activities,
burning of coal, natural gas and oil to produce electricity is the main source of the worlds greenhouse gas
emissions. Other sources of greenhouse gases are the industry, forestry, agriculture and transportation
(United States, Global Emissions).
Some gases in the atmosphere exhibit the greenhouse effect heat trapped by gases in the
atmosphere that warm the Earth and makes it suitable for life. Water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous
oxide and fluorinated gases are examples of this greenhouse gases. Carbon dioxide comes from the
combustion of any carbon-containing compounds, like fuels. Methane, on the other hand, is produced from
decomposing matter in landfills, agricultural activities and wastes from agricultural livestock. Use of fertilizers
as well as agricultural activities like soil cultivation are the sources of nitrous oxide while refrigerants used in
air conditioners and refrigerators are the sources of fluorinated gases such as chlorofluorocarbons or CFCs
(United States, Global Emission).
Since the Industrial Revolution in the 1700s, carbon dioxide levels have increased by 40%
(LearnStuff). Burning of fossil fuels that helped increase production and the overuse of natural resources like
deforestation imposed a threat to the environment. Factories gave off harmful gases into the air and also
polluted the land and bodies of water. Industries multiplied to meet the needs and demands of the people
while emissions also boosted. More carbon dioxide is emitted into the air more than the amount of carbon
sinks can contain. A carbon sink is a process that absorbs carbon from the atmosphere like photosynthesis in
plants and the dissolution of carbon dioxide in the oceans (Science Museum).
Today, it is the power plants which give off pollutants in the air in a faster rate. Smoke from these
plants causes not only damage to the environment but also accidents as smoke can combine with fog that
results to smog which is also harmful to human health. Respiratory problems like asthma, upper respiratory
tract infections (cough, colds) and lung cancer are commonly associated with the pollutants present in the air.
The Inevitable Consequences
The effects of this horrendous abuse to the environment should not be ignored and must be counted
as a very serious matter. Millions of people will be affected if the projected consequences of mans actions
take place. Increase in the worlds temperature will cause the ice to melt and if the ice covering Greenland,
the Arctic and Antarctica thaws, a rise in sea level of about 7 to 23 inches is expected (National Geographic).
Countries located along coastal areas and are located below sea-level (e.g. Netherlands) will be experiencing
the surge of seawater.
However, climate change is not only an environmental problem. Climate change also affects the
economy not on a local perspective but on an international level. Every country will suffer the outcome
economically once the products of climate change commence. Developing nations will be the first to be
afflicted because of their vulnerability.
In a study by DARA, an international organization, extreme weather conditions will cost the world
economy by 1.2 trillion dollars a year which is equivalent to 1.6% of the global gross domestic product (GDP)
and by 2030, this percentage will double to 3.2% of the worlds GDP (DARA). Climate change is also
responsible for about 5 million deaths every year mainly due to air pollution. In the Philippines, typhoons
Ondoy and Pepeng that struck the country in 2009 left about 900 people dead and damages amounting to
almost 40 billion pesos. These unusually strong typhoons are said to be a result of the worlds changing
climate. It should be noted that typhoon Pepeng devastated parts of northern Luzon days after Ondoy exited
the country and inundated Metro Manila and central Luzon (Philippine Natl Disaster Coordinating Council).
In terms of food security, drought and severe flooding will be the major problems. According to a
study by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, increase in heavy downpours will occur more in
the tropical regions while in the temperate areas, drier droughts will happen (Banerjee). Crop yields will
become lesser that may lead to food scarcity that will further burden countries which do not have a secure
food supply. For example, in 2010, an El Nio-induced drought that hit the Philippines set a loss of about 12
billion pesos (Citizens Disaster Response Center). Accompanying the changes in weather that will greatly
influence the source of food is the boom of pests, the main enemy of farmers. Hotter and more humid
environments will favor the growth of parasites that severely damages crops leading to lesser harvests (United
States, Agriculture).
The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), based in Los Baos, Laguna, Philippines, is finding
ways to adapt rice in different climate types. It produced rice varieties that are resilient to drought, flood and
changes in soil salinity and that generate more products. IRRI has been studying and finding innovations to
ensure food security in places where rice production and destructive weather conditions are serious problems
especially in Asian nations that rely mainly on rice. They are also developing rice types that are disease- and
pest-resistant which will be a considerable aid for the future.
The Future of the Oceans
The oceans, together with the forests, absorb enormous amounts of CO2 in the atmosphere. A third
of CO2 released is absorbed by the oceans which in turn acidifies it. A more acidic ocean can hamper the
growth of shellfishes, corals and other planktons (Ocean Ark Alliance). Corals serve as breeding grounds for
many marine animals while planktons provide as food for them. However, a change in the number of these
organisms may disturb the whole food chain, thus affecting the marine ecosystem too. From the same study
of the Ocean Ark Alliance, coral reefs disappear twice the rate of how rainforests lost. This threatens 25% of
the marine species, which inhabit the reefs, with extinction.
Aquatic resources contribute largely on the nutrition of those living in coastal areas which are mostly
developing nations. 2.8 billion people include aquatic foods in their diet and in the future they may face the
impact of climate change on global waters as the supply and distribution of marine species are significantly
changing, according to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) (qtd. in United
Nations).
Scientists have been finding techniques on how to mitigate the effect of ocean acidification. Woods
Hole Oceanographic Institution suggested by adding a chemical base to the oceans to neutralize the acidic
waters. Another way is reforestation so that the CO2 concentration in the atmosphere will stabilize or lower
lessening the amount of CO2 the oceans capture.
Mankinds Fate
Higher temperatures may cause water to evaporate faster resulting to limited water supply particularly
those who depend on mountain glaciers as their source of water. Increasing sea level may also disrupt water
supply as seawater intrusion may happen. Beaches may also disappear at rising waters. Hydroelectric plants
may dry out leading to power shortages (Union of Concerned Scientists).
Mans health will be at risk as temperatures become hotter and may lead to increase incidents of heat
strokes and dehydration especially during the summer months. Another issue related to climate change is the
poor air quality. Circulatory and respiratory diseases may worsen due to the presence of particulate matter and
toxic gases in the air as well as asthma (United States, Human Health). Sudden changes in the weather may
aggravate diseases that favors hotter and wetter climates like malaria, dengue fever and influenza. Diseases
spread easily at these conditions and favors some strains of diseases that are resistant to drugs.
Climate change is not a hoax rather it is an existent problem that everyone is affected. Again, it is not
an environmental problem since it has effects to almost every part of human living but climate change
considerably shook every countrys economy. Large sums of money that should be used for the peoples
welfare are lost due to humans too. Lack of discipline and consideration to the environment are the reasons
for this continuing problem and only the governments law-enforcing power is the answer to curb this global
crisis we have experiencing now.
We need laws and a will to solve this worsening problem. We do not need additional laws to be
created. Every country has enough laws to limit the effects and what is absent is how they enforce it. They
must sure that everyone obeys because it is also for everyones good. Science experts have said what needs to
be heard and it is time for us and our governments to take action. The survival of man is at stake here and
the progress man achieved may be lost only because of mans actions too.